Roger Ebert was (is and will be) a MAJOR influence on my writing, as well as my ability to critically analyze something (be it a movie or anything else). I started reading his work in 1985 (way before the internet) when he began publishing yearly collections of his movie reviews. They tended to come out around my birthday, so they would invariably be the present I most looked forward to. I would get the books and hungrily flip through them, looking for the newly-added reviews, not stopping until I read them all. Then I would re-read them to the point of near-memorization.
When I was in the hospital for major surgery in 2003, one of the books I had with me for my stay was a book of his reviews. It truly kept me focused and sane during a rough period. His own courage (though I bet he would balk at that word) and dignity during his illnesses (sadly plural) was inspiring.
It has not sunk in yet, that Roger Ebert is no more. I think I shall spend the next few hours on his site, randonly reading reviews throughout the years. His thoughts on mediocre films is better than most critics best writing on masterpieces.
When I was in the hospital for major surgery in 2003, one of the books I had with me for my stay was a book of his reviews. It truly kept me focused and sane during a rough period. His own courage (though I bet he would balk at that word) and dignity during his illnesses (sadly plural) was inspiring.
It has not sunk in yet, that Roger Ebert is no more. I think I shall spend the next few hours on his site, randonly reading reviews throughout the years. His thoughts on mediocre films is better than most critics best writing on masterpieces.